Usain Bolt rues slow start in latest victory

Reuters, BRUSSELS

Sun, Sep 08, 2013 - Page 18

World and Olympic champion Usain Bolt powered away late in the race to destroy his rivals and win the 100m final in 9.8 seconds at the season-closing Diamond League meeting in Brussels on Friday.

Bolt, who won 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay golds at last month’s world championships, was one of several Moscow medalists in action.

After a poor start, Bolt’s acceleration over the second half of the race was again the difference in a race featuring six of the finalists from Moscow.

Bolt, performing fewer of his customary pre-race theatrics than at previous meetings, said despite the win, he was not satisfied with his start.

“My reaction time was very poor, I think it was my slowest one for the season,” the 27-year-old said. “I’m just really bad at starting. I think if you watch most of my races you see I’m coming from behind to get back into the race. There’s no time to slow down. As soon as I pass my competitors, there’s the line.”

American Michael Rodgers was second in his season’s best of 9.90 and Jamaica’s world bronze medalist Nesta Carter was third. Justin Gatlin, second to Bolt in Moscow, finished fourth.

Bolt’s compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has been the dominant women’s sprinter this year and the world and Olympic champion set a meeting record of 10.72 as clear winner of her 100m event.

Jamaican Warren Weir, silver medalist to Bolt in the 200m in Moscow, edged compatriot Nickel Ashmeade over the longer sprint for victory in 19.87 seconds.

King Badouin Stadium was a sell-out for the event, an impressive feat given many local sports fans would have been watching the Belgium soccer team’s World Cup qualifier against Scotland.